Patton Movie | 80's Movie Guide

Taglines: Direct from its sensational reserved seat engagement. Patton tells the tale of General George S. Patton, famous tank commander of World War II. The film begins with Patton's career in North Africa and progresses through the invasion of Europe and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton's numerous faults such his temper and tendency toward insubordination, faults that would prevent him from becoming the lead American general in the Normandy Invasion as well as to his being relieved as Occupation Commander of Germany. Patton is a 1970 American epic biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. It stars George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates and Karl Michael Vogler. It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a script by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, who based their screenplay on the biography Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago and Omar Bradley's memoir A Soldier's Story. The film was shot in 65mm Dimension 150 by cinematographer Fred J. Koenekamp and has a music score by Jerry Goldsmith. Patton won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Scott won Best Actor for his portrayal of General Patton, but declined to accept the award. The opening monologue, delivered by George C. Scott as General Patton with an enormous American flag behind him, remains an iconic and often quoted image in film. The film was successful, and in 2003, Patton was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". Patton (1970) Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young, Michael Strong, Morgan Paull, Carey Loftin, Albert Dumortier Screenplay by: Francis Ford Coppola, Edmund H. North Cinematography by: Fred J. Koenekamp Film Editing by: Hugh S. Fowler Set Decoration by: Antonio Mateos, Pierre-Louis Thévenet Art Direction by: Urie McCleary. Gil Parrondo Music by: Jerry Goldsmith Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Release Date: April 2, 1970